The competitive football season has officially kicked off with Champions League winners Real Madrid defeating Europa League champions Sevilla 3-2 in extra time in a back and forth competitive affair in Norway.
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Due to Pepe’s absence, French defender Raphael Varane will partner Sergio Ramos at the heart of defence, with Dani Carvajal and Marcelo on either side of the duo.
That looked to have won Sevilla the title but Ramos made amends for his foul by heading home in stoppage time, and then full-back Carvajal proved an unlikely victor with a last-gasp solo goal sealing a 3-2 victory.
The Andalucians could have little to complain about over Carvajal’s victor, as he flew into the box and clipped the ball past two defenders and the ‘keeper with a lovely flick from the outside of his right boot.
Lucas Vazquez’s cross found Ramos alone in the centre of the box and he could not miss with a header from four yards out.
“We are missing some important players, but we are happy with the squad we have”, Ramos said at a news conference. It is brilliant to have him.
“Sometimes to play a great game it takes two sides and today we saw just that”.
Zidane will be without Portuguese veterans Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe, who are both still on holiday, plus also Gareth Bale and Toni Kroos, who only returned from their holidays on Saturday. “A goal after the 90th minute and another one at the end of the added period make us champions”. We’ve seen it before. A lot of eyes will be on Alvaro Morata, Real resigned the player from Juventus for €30 million this summer and he will likely start today up front.
That’s good news for new Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli, who took over from Unai Emery in the summer.
Steven N’Zonzi, Franco Vazquez, Mariano, Vicente Iborra and Nicolas Pareja all start as well for the La Liga club.
Grzegorz Krychowiak, Ever Banega and Kevin Gameiro have all moved on to PSG, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid respectively, while captain Coke has signed for Schalke.
But Perez did not confirm one way or the other after the contest in Trondheim on Tuesday.
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Vitolo lured Ramos into an ill-advised challenge as he cut inside into the penalty area and Serbian referee Milorad Mazic pointed to the spot, handing Konoplyanka – who had been on the pitch for less than five minutes – the chance to calmly send Casilla the wrong way.
